Denver Broncos San Diego Chargers, January 2, 2011at Invesco Field at Mile High. Broncos Quarterback Tim Tebow scrambles in the Broncos final drive of the fourth quarter. Photo by Tim Rasmussen, The Denver Post

New Twitter activist John Elway (who has reached the 60-tweet plateau) chirped last week: “Many talented prospects in this year’s draft — Which players do you like? Who do you want to see in a Broncos uniform?”

Astonishingly, Elway et al. have shown more than passing (literally) interest in at least seven quarterbacks who will be available in the three-day draft starting a month from Monday.

Just because Elway wore No. 7 doesn’t mean he has to do everything in sevens. The QBs who have been scouted and scrutinized; talked to; watched at their pro days, the NFL combine and the Senior Bowl; and/or invited to Denver include Cam Newton (Auburn), Blaine Gabbert (Missouri), Jake Locker (Washington), Ryan Mallett (Arkansas), Christian Ponder (Florida State), Colin Kaepernick (Nevada) and Andy Dalton (TCU).

The Broncos have under contract Tim Tebow, Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn.

Elway tweets: “Our philosophy is to look at as many players as possible who are on our draft board. Important to be thorough at every position.”

My position is the Broncos must be thorough at every position . . . on defense.

Orange Crush has been reduced to Orange Slurpee. In 2010 the Broncos were last in the NFL in yards (6,253) and points (471) allowed. John Fox, a defense-oriented coach, was hired. The team was frail and feeble on the defensive front, and two starters and two reserves are gone.

The linebacking corps was mediocre, and two linebackers (Elvis Dumervil, out with injury all season, and Robert Ayers) will be shifted to ends. The secondary has Champ Bailey back, but who has his back?

The Broncos were given a seventh-round compensatory pick by the NFL on Friday.

The Duke of Denver, the sly Fox and X-Man Brian Xanders own seven selections in seven rounds, with the second overall as a result of the McHiavellian Era.

So, what’s with all the gratuitous attention on Newton, Gabbert and Mallett?

The theories are:

• Harley-Davidson owners hang with other Hogheads, and Elway rides with quarterbacks.

• The Broncos’ three-headed Cerberus is not fond of the current quarterbacks. Orton isn’t mobile, has serious difficulties on third down and when the Broncos are behind by more than a touchdown in the fourth quarter, and is 11-17 as a starter in Denver.

Elway believes Tebow is “very raw” and not ready, or able, to be a pro quarterback; Fox is uncertain about Tebow and opposed to starting young quarterbacks. And The Mighty Quinn and his erratic arm virtually have been forgotten, although Fox said, “Quinn I’m looking forward to seeing.”

• It’s all a ruse. The Broncos are trying to fool other teams into thinking they will choose a quarterback. Therefore, the stupidest will make a deal with the Broncos for that revered choice. Also, after the Broncos announced, meaninglessly, that Orton is the starter “right now” (there is no “right now” with the lockout), they hope teams will jump at a trade for the deposed QB.

• The Broncos hope that Locker, Ponder, Kaepernick or even Mallett slip, and one can be drafted in the second round, where they have two picks, because they are intending to dump Orton and Quinn.

• The Broncos’ confused brain trust will take Newton or Gabbert.

The realities are:

• Smart people in Denver will not accept the Broncos drafting still another quarterback in the first round or starting Orton again.

• Fox was disgusted that a year ago his former team’s GM chose quarterbacks with two of its first three picks — and selected a third QB later. Jimmy Clausen busted, project Armanti Edwards was converted to wide receiver and Tony Pike played in one game. The Panthers are expected to select another quarterback No. 1 on April 28.

• The Broncos will draft a dominant defensive tackle — Marcell Dareus is the leader in the clubhouse — or trade the pick if they can get Patrick Peterson or Von Miller several picks later. Perhaps they can persuade the 49ers, at No. 7 (yes), the Titans (8), Washington’s Mike Shana- han (10th; he grabbed Jay Cutler at 11) or the Vikings (12) to trade up with additional draft choices for the Broncos’ pick.

Tweet this to Broncos Exec VP Football Ops: More cowbell, not more quarterbacks.

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